Mr. Paul Mandl is a specialist of economic regional integration with over 20 years of specific experience in the field and over 10 years cumulated experience in ASEAN itself. Paul brings to the project more than 8 years of experience as Team Leader managing complex technical assistance programme and team of international experts with diverse technical backgrounds. He has been working in the ASEAN region since 2007, has been closely associated to APRIS 2 and, more importantly, he has been managing the ARISE project over the past four and a half years. He has a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the matters to be addressed under this technical assistance, a detailed understanding of the activities to be implemented and necessary working relationships established with key decision makers in ASEC, ASEAN institutions, AMS authorities and EU Delegations concerned by the ARISE Plus programme.